New Sleeper. Coach to Cut Desert Journey Time 'FAMOUS for
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its coach service across I the Syrian Desert from Baghdad to Damascus, a distance of about 600 miles, the Nairn Transport Co. has recently placed in service a new 14-passenger articulated sleeper coach.
The tractor, which was built by the Van Dorn Ironworks Co., Cleveland, U.S.A., is fitted with a 150 b.h.p. oil engine, and is coupled to a two-wheeled semi-trailer constructed by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia. The sleeping compartments, although each arranged for two persons, are sufficiently large for four. The berths are designed so that they can be converted into seats, The exterior of the coach body in built up of corrugated stainless steel by what is known as the Shotweicl process, the claim for which is its combination of lightness with strength. The side frames are of " stress skin construction," and two longitudinal members to which the bulkheads are attached run the entire length of the bodywork.
Because of sand storms, all bodywork joints are soldered, cemented and painted, and thoroughly water tested, so that they cannot leak or " breathe" dust. The inside walls are of /-in, plywood. screwed and cemented to the battens. Further to prevent the admission of sand to the interior of the vehicle, the wood floor, which is covered with linoleum, is cemented to a subfloor, whilst a shield made of 20gauge sound-deadened galvanized iron is also bolted over the entire bottom surface of the body.
Two entrance doors are provided, one on the off side and the other at the rear. Two windows ale provided in each sleeping compartment. Dressing rooms and lavatories are also included in the accommodation.
During the trip across the desert iced tea, water, coffee and luncheon boxes, containing sandwiches and fruit, are a;ailable at all times. Emergency supplies for a number of days, together with the baggage, are carried • in lockers on one side of the forward section, whilst on the other there is a large compartment for bed linen, pillows and blankets. Water is supplied by a 65-gallon tank mounted at the rear.
In view of the great variations in the external temperature— between 0 degrees and 140 degrees F.—special attention has been devoted to the conditioning of the air inside the coach, individual air ducts running to the upper and lower berths. A 3-in.• layer of kapok covered with muslin is also provided between the inside lining and outer sheathing of the body. The road wheels are equipped with special Firestone 300 by 20 low-pressure pneumatic tyres, twins being used at the rear of both the tractor and. semitrailer.
The overall length of the whole outfit is 57 ft. 6 ins., that of the semi
trailer alone being 36 ft. 8 ins. The overall height, when loaded, is 8 ft. 7 ins., and the weight in running order approximately 12i tons. It is stated that the machine can attain a top speed of 65 m.p.h. and it is expected to be able to reduce the journey from 24 hours to 15 hours.